Label dispenser



Oct. 18, 1949. c. A. ELOOD 2,484,880

LABEL DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l 0. A. FLQO D LABEL DISPENSER File-d June 30 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll u.

l HIIIIIIII Illll C. A. FLOOD LABEL DISPENSER Oct; 18, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1944 c. A. FLOOD- LABEL DISPENSER Oct. 18, 1949.

Filed June 30, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 18, 1949. c. A. FLOOD 2,484,830

LABEL DISPENSER Filed June so, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnaezufa W775 wad 5 Yfim j aw Patented st. 18, 1949 LABEL DISPENSER Carl A. Flood, Framingham, Mass., asslgnor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 30, 1944, Serial No. 543,037

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for dispens- Q ing labels which are adhesively mounted on one side of an elongate backing strip and more particularly to labels having normally tacky adhesive which readily peels oil the backing sheet.

Objects of the invention are to provide improved dispensing devices which are simple and economical in construction, which are emcient and reliable in use, which are easy to load and which are generally superior to prior devices of the type referred to.

According to the present invention the device has an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively from the backing, together with a guide adjacent the edge for guiding the backing away from the edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels and means for drawing the backing over such edge and thence over the guide, characterized by means for movably interconnecting the edge and guide so that they may be separated to thread the backing therebetween. Preferably the aforesaid edge is on a plate along which the backing is fed to the edge and the guide is in the form of a roller having its axis parallel to the edge and its periphery adjacent to the back side of the plate. The means for feeding the backing strip preferably comprises means for turning the aforesaid roller, a pressure roller being associated with the feed roller to press the backing against the feed roller. The means for movably interconnecting the aforesaid edge and guide so that they may be separated to thread the backing therebetween may comprise either means for moving the feed roller away from the plate and pressure rolleror means for moving the plate and pressure roller away from the feed roller.

For the purpose of illustration two typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings-of which Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on lines 5-! of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 showing the parts in operating position and Fig. 8 showing the parts in threading position;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the second embodiment; and

Figs. l0, l1 and 12 are central longitudinal sections of the second embodiment, Fig. 10 showing the cover open for loading and the feed roller retracted for threading, Fig. 11 showing the cover closed and the feed roller still retracted for threading purposes and Fig. 12 showing the parts in operative position.

The first embodiment comprises a casing I containing a motor and a clutch 2 for causing the apparatus to perform one cycle of operations each time the handle 3 is depressed momentarily. Projecting from the side of the casing is a platform or table 4 which has a rearwardly projecting curved arm 6 and a depending curved arm I to guide the backing strip. Adjacent the guides 6 and l a roll R of the strip material, comprising labels L on a backing B, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 8 projecting from the side of the casing.

As shown in Fig. 5 the label strip feeds from the roll over the curved guide 6, thence over the platform, thence over the peeling edge 3 where the labels are projected, the backing strip then passing between a feed roller ii and a pressure roller l2. As the labels are projected from the backing they drop on an endless belt 13 which travels around a bar It mounted on the outside of the casing. The bar has side plates l6 attached to its opposite sides, the upper edges of the plates being beveled so that the ends of the labels projecting beyond the edges of the belt may easily be grasped between the thumb and finger (Fig. 1). At their forward ends the side plates l6 carry a belt roller I! and at the rear end of the bar it a roller i8 for feeding the belt is journaled at its outer end in the outer plate It and at its inner end in the casing I (Fig. 1). The rollers II and 18 are driven by the aforesaid motor through gearing including gears I9. When the trip lever 3 is depressed the machine operates long enough to fill the upper side of the belt It with labels, the belt i3 traveling somewhat faster than the label strip so that the labels are deposited on the belt I3 in spaced relationship.

The aforesaid peeling edge 9 is located at the forward end of a plate 2| which is mounted on a slide 22 by means of rivets 23 and spacers 24,

Fig 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment; these parts constituting a platform which slides in dovetail grooves in the platform 4 (Fig. 4). Detachably mounted on the plate 2| is a strip guide 26 having side flanges 21 between which the label strip feeds to the peeling edge. The guide 26 is detachably mounted on the plate 2| by means of struck-up ears 29 hooking through openings in the plate. Preferably the device is provided with a number of guides 26 of different widths so that the device may be adapted to strips of different widths merely by interchanging the guides.

As shown in Fig. 6 the side flanges 21 of the guide 26 are provided with notches 29 to receive an arm 3| which is mounted on the casing to swing upwardly about a horizontal pivot 32 on a post 33 which is Journaled in the casing to swing about a vertical axis. Fast to post 33 is an arm 34 which projects into a recess in the side of plate 22. Fast to the outer side of the casing extension 4 is a plate 36 which also has a notch to receive the arm 3|. Thus when the arm is down in normal position (Figs. 1 to the retractile platform is locked in forward position by engagement of the arm 3| in the notches in the guide 26 and the stationary plate 36. However when the arm 3| is lifted the platform is free to be retracted, and by swinging the arm 3| to the rear the platform is retracted by arm 34 to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the platform is in its forward operative position the forward end of the plate 2| projects between the feed roller and a guide roller 31 which prevents the label strip from arching up as it approaches the peeling edge, thereby preventing the labels from following the backing around the edge.

A pressure roller I2 is mounted on the forward end of a slide 38 which is pressed forwardly by a spring 39 and which may be retracted against the action of the spring to the position shown in Fig. 6 by means of a lever 4| pivotally mounted on post 33 with a slot 46 (Fig. 1) to receive a pin 42 on the slide and with its outer end projecting outside the casing (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) To thread the device the arm 3| is swung up to unlock the sliding platform and then the platform is retracted by swinging the arm to the position shown in Fig. 6. The pressure roller I2 is retracted by pressing the outer end of the lever 4| to the rear. While still holding lever 4| the end of the label strip is inserted between the rollers II and I2. Upon releasing the lever 4| spring 39 returns the slide 36 to forward position, thereby pinching the end of the label strip between the two rollers II and 12. Then the lever 3| is swung forwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 to 5, thereby projecting the peeling edge 9 between the rollers II and 31. With the parts in these positions the lever 3 is depressed to cause the machine to operate through one cycle, thereby depositing a series of labels on the belt l3 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7-12 the casing, which is preferably formed of wood, comprises a top 43, sides 44, a bottom 46 and a front 41 having a V-shaped opening 49 with a flat bottom. The top 43 is pivotally mounted in the sides 44 by means of two screws 49. In a recess on the upper side of the top 43 a stripping plate 5| is mounted by means of a bar 52 fast to the plate and secured in a groove in the top. Mounted on the under side of the top 43 is a pressure roller '53 which may comprise a wooden roller rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 supported by two leaf springs 56 secured by means of screws in recesses in a strip 51 fast to the bottom of the cover. On

its lower side the cover 43 also carries a leaf spring 56 which presses the label strip against the upper edge 59 of the rear wall of the casing as shown in Fig. 12, thereby to hold the strip taut as it approaches the peeling edge on plate 5|. In this way the strip is prevented from arching away from the plate as it approaches the peeling edge. in which case the labels might follow the backing around the edge instead of being projected away from the backing.

The sides 44 have forward extensions 64 and pivotally mounted in these extensions at 66 is a ball 61 which swings between the retracted position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and the closed position shown in Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 12. Fast to the bottom of the ball is a spring detent 69 which snaps over the edge of the flat bottom of the recess 48 against a plate 59 to hold the bail in operative position. Journaled between the upper ends of the bail is a feed roller 1| which preferablyhas a rubber covering 12. The roller is fast to a shaft 13 which extends through openings in the bail 61, one end of the shaft being bent to form a handle 14. The ball 61 also carries a bar 16 which has a horizontal edge projecting close to the under side of the peeling edge of the plate 5| to keep the backing B from arching away from the peelingedge as it leaves the edge. By thus insuring that the backing makes a sharp turn around the peeling edge, any tendency for the labels to follow the backing around the edge instead of being projected from the backing is counteracted. Beyond the aforesaid horizontal edge the bar 16 has an inclined surface to which the tacky side of each label lightly sticks as it leaves the backing if it is not grasped before it falls on this surface. The lower edge of bar 16 serves as a tearing edge to remove the projecting end of the backing from time to time.

The embodiment shown in Figs. '1 to 12 may also be provided with a flat piece 16, of wood or the like, which is pivotally mounted on the ball 61 by means of side arms 19 pivotally connected to the ball at 86. These parts are so shaped that when the flat piece 19 is swung down to the solidline position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 it serves as a hand rest for writing on the label just before the label reaches the peeling edge, and when the parts are swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 12 the lower edge of the piece 18 rests on the label just back of the peeling edge, the weight of the pivoted parts preventing the label strip from arching away from the plate 5|, thereby further insuring that the labels are projected from the backing instead of following the backin around the peeling edge. To hold the part 18 in the horizontal position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 screws 6| aremounted in the bail 61 so that the heads serve as abutments for the arms 19.

.To load the device shown in Figs. 7 to 12 the parts are opened as shown in Fig. 10. The roll of label material is then placed in the position indicated by the broken line 34 in Fig. 12. After inserting the end of the roll through the space (Fig. 10).. thecover 43 is closed. Then the end of the strip is inserted between the two rollers 53 and 1| as indicated in Fig. 11. The bail 61 is then swung to closed position and the extension 16 is swung up to its holding position. As shown in Fig. 12 the feed roller 1| moves in between the plate 5| and the pressure roller 53, flexing the springs 56 downwardly to provide a yielding pressure on the backing B as it passes between the two rollers. Owing to the sharp turn which the backing is caused to take about the peeling edge of plate II, the labels L are projected away from the backing as indicated in Fig. 12 so that they may be lifted away from the device as the tail end of the foremost label passes over the peeling edge.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, a device having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a guide adjacent said edge for guiding the backing away from said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, means for drawing the backing over said edge and thence over said guide, and means movably interconnecting said edge and guide so that they may be separated to thread the backing therebetween.

2. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a roller for guiding the backing away from said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, means for drawing the backing over said edge and thence over said roller, and means movably interconnecting said plate and roller so that they may be separated to thread the backing therebetween.

3. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, means including a feed roller for drawing the backing over said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, and means movably interconnecting said plate and roller so that they may be separated to thread the backing therebetween.

4. A'device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to eel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a roller for guiding the backing away from the projected labels at an angle great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, means for drawing the backing forwardly over said edge and thence rearwardly over said roller, and means movably mounting said plate for rearward movement relatively to the roller, whereby the plate and roller may be separated to thread the backing therebetween.

5. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a roller ior guiding the backing away item the projected labels at an angle great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side 0! the plate, means for drawing the backing forwardly over said edge and thence rearwardly over said roller, and means movably mounting said roller ior forward movement beyond said edge, whereby the plate and roller may be separated to thread the backing therebetween.

6. A device for dispensing labelsfrom a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having a forward edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a feed roller for drawing the backing over said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, a pressure roller for pressing the backing against the feed roller, the pressure roller being located on the rearward side of the feed roller, and means movably interconnecting said plate and rollers for relative movement lengthwise of the plate, so that the feed roller may be separated from the plate and pressure roller to thread the backing therebetween.

7. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, compris ing a plate having a forward edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a feed roller for drawing the backing over said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, a pressure roller for pressing the backing against the feed roller, the

pressure roller being located on the rearward side of the feed roller, and means for moving the feed roller forwardly from said edge and pressure roller to thread the backing therebetween.

8. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having a forward edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a feed roller for drawing the backing over said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels, the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, a pressure roller for pressing the backing against the feed roller, the pressure roller being located on the rearward side of the feed roller, and means for moving the plate and pressure roller rearwardly from the feed roller to thread the backing therebetween.

9. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a guide in advance of the edge to restrain the backing from arching away from the plate as it approaches the edge, a guide on the other side of the plate for guiding the backing away from the edge at an angle great enough to peel the backing from the labels, and means movably interconnecting said plate and guides so that each guide and plate may be separated relatively to each other for threading the backing therebetween.

10. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, a guide in advance of the edge to restrain the backing from arching away from the plate as it approaches the edge, a guide on the other side of the plate for guiding the backing away from the edge at an angle great enough to peel the backing from the labels, and means movably interconnecting said plate and guides so that each guide 'and plate may be separated relatively to each other without producing relative movement between the two guides.

11. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively, means including a feed roller for drawing the backing over said edge at an angle to the labels great enough to peel the backing from the labels; the roller having its axis parallel to said edge and its periphery adjacent the back side of the plate, a guide on the front side of the plate for restraining the backing from arching away from said plate as it approaches said edge, and means movably interconnecting said plate, roller and guide so that both the plate and roller and also the plate and 8 guide may be separated from each other for threading purposes.

12. A device for dispensing labels from a backing upon which the labels are mounted with adhesive adapted to peel away from the backing, comprising a plate having an edge over which the backing is stripped to peel the backing away from the labels and project the labels successively. a guide adjacent said edge for guiding the backing away from the edge at an angle great enough to peel the backing from the labels, and means movably interconnecting said plate and guide so that they may be separated relatively to each other for threading the backing therebetween.

. CARL A. FLOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,477,024 Aitchison Dec. 11, 1923 1,825,885 Murray Oct. 6, 1931 2,237,917 Shackleton Apr. 8, 1941 2,276,297 Flood Mar. 17, 1942 2,289,642 Flood July 14, 1942 2,317,576 Avery Apr. 27, 1943 2,331,019 Flood Oct. 5, 1943 

